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5 from 57 votes

Creamy Beef Enchilada Soup

This creamy Beef Enchilada Soup is the ultimate comfort dish. Made with ingredients like poblano peppers, bacon, Mexican seasoning, enchilada sauce, corn, beans, and cream cheese, it offers a deliciously rich, bold taste. Whip this recipe up when you’re craving a cozy, Mexican-inspired recipe.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time50 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Servings: 6
Author: Brianna May

Ingredients

  • 1-2 whole poblanos or diced green bell peppers, see instructions*
  • 4 pieces bacon, diced
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 6-7 cloves garlic, pressed
  • 1 Tablespoon cumin
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon EACH oregano & smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon Morton kosher salt, plus more to taste*
  • 4 cups beef stock
  • 1 15-ounce can sweet corn, drained
  • 1 15-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 cup mild green or red enchilada sauce
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 4 ounces full fat brick-style cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 15-ounce ounce can pinto or black beans, optional
  • shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, & tortilla chips, for serving

Instructions

  • Optional: Place the poblanos directly on a gas burner on the stovetop over medium heat using metal tongs. Allow the poblanos to roast and blister for about 3-4 minutes. (If you do not have a gas stove, broil the peppers on high in the oven on the highest rack for 4-6 minutes per side or until they are blistered.) Flip the poblanos and repeat on the other side. Rotate if needed to blister the whole surface of the pepper. Place the charred peppers in a glass bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap. Allow the peppers to rest for 10-15 minutes. Once the peppers have rested, remove them from the bowl and place them on a cutting board or plate. Using your hands and a paper towel, peel and remove the skin, stem, and seeds. Rinse the peppers to remove any excess skin and seeds. Dice finely and set aside. While the poblanos rest, in a large Dutch oven or pot, add the bacon and ground beef. Begin to brown and break up the ground beef using a spoon.
    1-2 whole poblanos or diced green bell peppers, see instructions*, 4 pieces bacon, diced, 1 pound lean ground beef
  • Add the onion (and the diced raw peppers if you did not char them) and sauté until the beef is cooked and the veggies have softened.
    1 yellow onion, diced
  • Add the charred diced poblanos (if using), garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano, smoked paprika, and salt. Sauté for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.
    6-7 cloves garlic, pressed, 1 Tablespoon cumin, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon EACH oregano & smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon Morton kosher salt, plus more to taste*
  • Stir in the beef stock, corn, tomatoes, and enchilada sauce. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to medium-low.
    4 cups beef stock, 1 15-ounce can sweet corn, drained, 1 15-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes, 1 cup mild green or red enchilada sauce
  • Lightly boil and reduce uncovered for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the half and half, cream cheese, and beans (if using). Continue stirring until the cream cheese is fully incorporated. Taste and add more salt if needed. Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, & tortilla chips.
    1 cup half and half, 4 ounces full fat brick-style cream cheese, softened to room temperature, 1 15-ounce ounce can pinto or black beans, optional, shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped cilantro, sliced green onions, & tortilla chips, for serving

Notes

  • Poblano: Bell peppers will not add any spice to the soup but will provide flavor and color to the beef enchilada soup. Poblanos will provide heat to the dish. Choose between bell peppers and poblanos based on your heat preferences.
  • Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
  • Reduce the soup. To make a creamier, thicker beef enchilada soup, allow it to reduce on the stove before adding in the dairy. It should take about 25 minutes to reduce on the stove.
  • Adjust the heat with different peppers. You can easily adjust the heat in this beef enchilada soup with cream cheese by using either bell peppers or poblanos. If you’re serving this soup to kids, opt for the bell peppers to be safe. Poblanos will provide a hotter flavor.
  • Don’t skip the toppings. The toppings in this recipe really help finish off the dish. They add more flavor and a fun texture to the soup.

Nutrition

Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1650mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 13g